Mainframe Infrastructure Engineer

Insight Global; San Ramon (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Insight Global is seeking a Senior Principal Systems Software Engineer to lead IBM Z mainframe environments and integration teams. The role focuses on high availability, security, automation, and modernization across z/OS, z/Linux, and related platforms.

Responsibilities include lifecycle management, performance tuning, and disaster recovery for mission-critical systems, with collaboration across infrastructure, operations, and applications teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience with IBM Z environments and end-to-end lifecycle management.

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain IBM Z environments (z/OS, z/Linux, z/VM, LinuxONE, multi-LPAR Sysplex).
• Optimize mainframe infrastructure and subsystems (CICS, DB2, IMS, MQ, TIBCO).
• Manage storage, networking, and security (DASD, SAN, RACF, SSL/TLS).
• Lead troubleshooting and disaster recovery; perform root-cause analysis using IPCS, SLIP, EREP, XDC, GTF.
• Provide leadership and mentorship across infrastructure, operations, and applications teams.

Skills

IBM Z

z/OS

z/Linux

z/VM

LinuxONE

SMP/E

Sysplex

CICS

DB2

IMS

MQ

TIBCO

RACF

SSL/TLS

GSK

HMC

HCD

IPCS

XDC

REXX

zPDT

AMI Cloud

Networking

SAN

Tools

AM I Cloud

Job description

Job Description

The Senior Principal Systems Software Engineer will be responsible for the installation, administration, maintenance, performance tuning, and modernization of IBM Z mainframe environments including z/OS, z/Linux, LinuxONE, z/VM, storage systems, networking, and security infrastructure. This individual will provide technical leadership for mainframe integration teams, maintain high availability and security standards, drive automation initiatives, and support mission-critical enterprise systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Administer and maintain IBM Z environments, including z/OS, z/Linux, z/VM, LinuxONE, and multi-LPAR Sysplex platforms, overseeing software installation, upgrades, patching, and lifecycle management utilizing SMP/E and related tools.
• Optimize and support critical mainframe infrastructure and subsystems, including CICS, DB2, IMS, IBM MQ, and TIBCO environments, ensuring system performance, availability, scalability, and SLA compliance.
• Manage enterprise storage, networking, and security operations, including DASD, SAN, IBM/VAST storage platforms, RACF administration, SSL/TLS certificates, IBM Policy Agent, GSK, and IBM z/Systems networking.
• Lead complex troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and disaster recovery efforts, leveraging diagnostic tools such as IPCS, SLIP, EREP, XDC, and GTF to resolve system and application issues.
• Support IBM Z hardware and platform administration, including HMC, HCD, IPL profiles, hardware upgrades, storage provisioning, and infrastructure modernization initiatives through automation and REXX development.
• Provide technical leadership and cross-functional collaboration, partnering with infrastructure, operations, and application teams to implement best practices, drive modernization initiatives, communicate project status, and mentor mainframe integration staff.

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to [e-mail] learn more about how we collect, keep, and process your private information, please review Insight Global's Workforce Privacy Policy: https://insightglobal.com/workforce-privacy-policy/.

Skills and Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of experience on z/OS, zLinux and z/VM managing the end-to-end lifecycle for z/OS and Independent Software Vendor (ISV) products, including installation, upgrades, and maintenance using SMP/E, for a multi-LPAR Sysplex environment
• SMPE - Order, Configure Install and, Upgrade Software LinuxOne and IBM Z software
• zOSMF - Install software release upgrades using dialogs, Build software maintenance workflows
• IBM Support/ShopZ – Order software, Create IBM problem ticket, Research IBM software issues
• DASD - Install new disk systems, configure, manage, perform storage management tasks; Full knowledge of NFS in IBM z/OS, VAST and Power systems
• A good understanding of Linux and AIX systems administration
• Security - RACF - Maintain existing software security. Detailed knowledge of SSL/TLS, creating certificates, and IBM’s Policy Agent, IBM GSK - Configure Coupling Facility policies
• HMC - Configure and maintain security, server, Ops (IPL Profiles) and hardware definitions via Hardware Configuration Definition (HCD), coordinating with teams to support upgrades and installations of new IBM Z hardware. HCD – Configure server/device GENs
• Networks - Extensive knowledge of IBM z/Systems networks and Cisco network switches; Setup, configure and maintain SAN equipment, IBM and Broadcom/Brocade
• A good understanding of the IBM Z sub-systems, such as CICS, MQ and DB2
• Debug Tools – Provided expert-level problem determination and resolution for system and application issues, utilizing diagnostic tools such as IPCS, SLIP, EREP, XDC and GTF to perform root cause analysis. IPCS – Analyze svc dump diagnostic data
• Programming - Basic Assembler - Analyze svc dumps, logrec diagnostic data; Rexx - Develop, maintain system exits, utilities • Extensive experience in operating and customizing IBM zPDT environments
• Experience with BMC’s AMI Cloud or Model 9 software
• Experience with installing and configuring IBM Power equipment and systems
• Manage IBM mainframe hardware, replacements
• Deep knowledge of IBM storage devices for IBM Mainframe and open systems